- Museum number
- Mm,15.7
- Title
- Object: The martyrdom of Louis XVI, King of France.
- Description
-
Louis XVI (a portrait) stands alone on the scaffold, turning to the left and looking up, his right hand on his heart, his left hand raised. Behind (right) is the guillotine realistically drawn. In the background are bayonets, a flag, bugles, &c. There are heavy clouds but broad rays of light slant towards the King. Beneath, the title: 'I forgive my Enemies, I die Innocent!!!' 1 February 1793
Hand-coloured etching and stipple
- Production date
- 1793
- Dimensions
-
Height: 235 millimetres
-
Width: 208 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- (Description and comment from M.Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', VII, 1942)
For the execution (21 Jan.) see Pierre de la Vaissière, 'La Mort du Roi', 1910; Sorel, 'L'Europe et la Rév. fr.' iii. 266-70; de Vinck, BMSats 5098-5232; Hennin, Nos. 11,427-11,460; Dayot, 'Rév. fr.', pp. 190-4. The King attempted to say a few words, but drums were at once beaten to drown them. See also BMSats 8292, &c., 8300, 8304, 8306, 8307, 8308, 8309, 8312, 8319, 8446, 8460, 8825, 9260, 9345.
de Vinck, BMSats 5155, 5156 (plain and coloured).
- Location
- Not on display
- Exhibition history
-
1989 May-Sep, BM, Shadow of the Guillotine: Britain and French Revolution
1990 Jan-Mar, Manchester, Whitworth AG, Britain and French Revolution
1990 Jun-Sep, Vizille, Mus/Rev Francaise, Britain and French Revolution
- Acquisition date
- 1837 (before)
- Acquisition notes
- There is nothing on the verso to suggest the provenance.
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- Mm,15.7
